Monarch® Dark Dynasty Butterfly Bush

Light Needs

Part Sun to Full Sun

(5+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

2-3 Feet

Mature Spread

3-4 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 8

Buddleia Monarch® Dark Dynasty, commonly known as Monarch® Dark Dynasty Butterfly Bush, is a small, compact shrub that is a magnet for pollinators. It features long panicles of vivid purple flowers starting in late summer and continuing until first frost. The flowers are honey scented and attract migrating monarchs, along with other pollinators. The soft gray-green leaves are also attractive and stay evergreen in warmer climates. 

Monarch® Dark Dynasty Butterfly is an upright, densely branched shrub that reaches 2 – 3 feet tall and only 3 – 4 feet wide. It will stay compact and is an excellent choice for small landscapes. It is drought tolerant, heat tolerant, cold hardy to zone 5, and deer/rabbit resistant. Plant several of these shrubs to create an outstanding flowering hedge, add them to a pollinator garden, or use them in a foundation planting to upgrade your curb appeal.

Monarch® Dark Dynasty Butterfly Bush Care

This shrub thrives in full sun, with at least 8 hours of sun a day. It adapts to many different soil types, although it prefers fertile, slightly alkaline soil. The soil must drain freely, as water-logged soil is the most common cause of death in this shrub. Water Monarch Dark Dynasty weekly to establish its roots over the first growing season, and then reduce supplemental water the following years. Fertilize in the spring with an organic, all-purpose formula.

Butterfly bushes are slow to wake up in the spring. It blooms on new wood, so prune freely in early spring once new growth starts. Deadhead to encourage rebloom. 

Monarch® Dark Dynasty Butterfly Bush Spacing

For planting a tight hedge, space these shrubs approximately 3 feet apart, center on center. Increase the spacing to 5 feet apart if a gap between bushes is desired.

Find the Right Variety

Compare Monarch® Butterfly Bushes

Compare flower color, foliage, mature size, and the features that set each Monarch® Butterfly Bush apart.

Variety	Flowers	Foliage	Mature Size	Why Choose It
Monarch® Dark Dynasty Butterfly Bush	Royal purple	Gray-green	3' H × 3.5' W	Compact, rounded form for smaller sunny spaces
Monarch® Glass Slippers Butterfly Bush	Pale periwinkle blue	Silvery green	3' H × 5.5' W	Low, broad habit with cool-toned foliage and blooms
Monarch® Prince Charming Butterfly Bush	Cerise to raspberry pink	Green	3.5–4' H × 3.5–4' W	Intense pink 10-inch flower spikes on a rounded plant
Monarch® Blue Knight Butterfly Bush	Lavender to blue-purple	Mint green	3.5–4' H × 6–6.5' W	Extra-long two-tone flowers on a broad-spreading plant
Monarch® Crown Jewels Butterfly Bush	Magenta-purple	Golden yellow	3.5–4' H × 4–5' W	Golden foliage adds color before flowering begins
Monarch® Princess Pink Butterfly Bush	Light appleblossom pink	Dark green	5' H × 6–6.5' W	Large, floriferous plant with soft pink flower spikes
Monarch® Queen of Hearts Butterfly Bush	Magenta-red	Green	2.5–3' H × 3.5–4' W	Compact form with richly colored flower panicles

Need help deciding? Compare the complete Monarch® series →

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